Alexander Hale Smith
Encyclopedia
Alexander Hale Smith was the third surviving son of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith
. Alexander was born in Far West, Missouri
and eventually became a senior leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now "Community of Christ
"). Alexander served as an apostle and as Presiding Patriarch
of the church. He became religiously inclined after the April 1862 death of his older brother Frederick G. W. Smith (b. 1836), who had not been baptized, and was baptized on 25 May 1862 in Nauvoo, Illinois
by another older brother, Joseph Smith III
.
Alexander was ordained an apostle on 10 April 1873 and "served a mission to the Pacific Slope" with David Hyrum Smith
in 1875. He was ordained president of the Council of Twelve on 15 April 1890 at Lamoni, Iowa
. He was called to be a counselor to his brother, Joseph Smith III, and also a patriarch and evangelical minister on 12 April 1897. He went on a mission to Australia, Hawaii, and the Society Islands
in 1901. Alexander was a partner in a photograph gallery before becoming a carpenter.
Alexander wed Elizabeth Agnes Kendall in Nauvoo
, on 23 May 1861. A History of Decatur County, Iowa
published in 1915 provides many details about his life and his personality: "...He loved the wide outdoors, land and water and sky, and delighted in athletic sports, holding a record in his younger days as one of the best skaters and one of the two surest shots in the community. Of the nine children born to him, one daughter, Mrs. Grace Madison, died and is buried in San Bernardino, California, and one son, Don A., is buried at Lamoni. The second daughter, Mrs. Ina I. Wright, lived at Avalon, New South Wales, Australia, and Mrs. Coral Horner lived near Davis City, Iowa, she spent the later years of her life with her husband in Ronan, Montana. Mrs. Emma Kennedy
and the youngest sons, Joseph G. and Arthur M., resided at Independence, Missouri, while the oldest children, Fred A. and Mrs. Heman C. Smith, were residents of Lamoni, where the widow still lived in their home on the south side."
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
. Alexander was born in Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
and eventually became a senior leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now "Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
"). Alexander served as an apostle and as Presiding Patriarch
Presiding Patriarch (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Presiding Patriarch is a church-wide leadership office within the priesthood...
of the church. He became religiously inclined after the April 1862 death of his older brother Frederick G. W. Smith (b. 1836), who had not been baptized, and was baptized on 25 May 1862 in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
by another older brother, Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
.
Alexander was ordained an apostle on 10 April 1873 and "served a mission to the Pacific Slope" with David Hyrum Smith
David Hyrum Smith
David Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader, poet, painter, singer, philosopher, and naturalist. The youngest son of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Emma Hale Smith, he was an influential missionary and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was born approximately five months after the murder of...
in 1875. He was ordained president of the Council of Twelve on 15 April 1890 at Lamoni, Iowa
Lamoni, Iowa
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 818 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 761.1 people per square mile . There were 904 housing units at an average density of 281.5 per square mile...
. He was called to be a counselor to his brother, Joseph Smith III, and also a patriarch and evangelical minister on 12 April 1897. He went on a mission to Australia, Hawaii, and the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
in 1901. Alexander was a partner in a photograph gallery before becoming a carpenter.
Alexander wed Elizabeth Agnes Kendall in Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, on 23 May 1861. A History of Decatur County, Iowa
Decatur County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,457 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,834 housing units, of which 3,223 were occupied.-2000 census:...
published in 1915 provides many details about his life and his personality: "...He loved the wide outdoors, land and water and sky, and delighted in athletic sports, holding a record in his younger days as one of the best skaters and one of the two surest shots in the community. Of the nine children born to him, one daughter, Mrs. Grace Madison, died and is buried in San Bernardino, California, and one son, Don A., is buried at Lamoni. The second daughter, Mrs. Ina I. Wright, lived at Avalon, New South Wales, Australia, and Mrs. Coral Horner lived near Davis City, Iowa, she spent the later years of her life with her husband in Ronan, Montana. Mrs. Emma Kennedy
Emma Smith Kennedy
Emma Belle Smith Kennedy or "Emma Kennedy" was a granddaughter of Joseph Smith, Jr., and daughter of his third surviving son, Alexander Hale Smith...
and the youngest sons, Joseph G. and Arthur M., resided at Independence, Missouri, while the oldest children, Fred A. and Mrs. Heman C. Smith, were residents of Lamoni, where the widow still lived in their home on the south side."
External links
- photograph of Alexander Hale Smith at josephmithsr.com
- Rare photograph of Frederick Granger Williams Smith, Alexander Hale Smith and other surviving sons of Joseph Smith, Jr.
